Travel+Leisure has put out its picks of best places to go when in North Carolina, and three Northeastern North Carolina places are on the list.
The Outer Banks, Merchant’s Mill Pond State Park in Gates County and Wright Brothers National Memorial are among the “25 Best Places to Visit in North Carolina — Including a Scenic Parkway, Buzzy Cities, and the Most-visited National Park”, according to the website.
Here’s what Travel+Leisure’s Lynn Brown had to say about the attractions in our corner of the state:
4. Outer Banks
Get a taste of island living on this barrier island chain off the coast of North Carolina. Visit the Outer Banks to spend some time on the beach, explore a host of water sports, or take a tour around the area’s lighthouses and other historic sites.
19. Merchants Millpond State Park
Showcasing the sheer diversity of ecosystems in the state of North Carolina, a visit to Merchants Millpond State Park will make you feel like you’re in the bayous found further south. This unique ecosystem combines hardwood forests with swampland, allowing visitors to both hike and paddle around the enchanting landscape.
21. Wright Brothers National Memorial
Did you know you can visit the location where flight was born? In 1903 at this spot, Wilbur and Orville Wright achieved the first powered flight. Today visitors can view the monument to this accomplishment and explore the reconstructed camp buildings and interactive exhibitions at the visitor’s center.
The rest of the list includes Raleigh, Chapel Hill, Charlotte, Asheville, Blue Ridge Parkway, Old Salem, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Durham, Wilmington Riverwalk, International Civil Rights Center & Museum in Greensboro, The Biltmore Estate, Winkler Bakery, Shackleford Banks, Chimney Rock State Park, Unto These Hills outdoor drama, Pisgah National Forest, Linville Falls, High Point furniture shopping, Levin Museum of the South, Grandfather Mountain, N.C. Museum of History, and Sarah P. Duke Gardens.
Story courtesy Visit NC NewsLink, a weekly e-newsletter from the Economic Development Partnership of North Carolina. NewsLink provides information to nearly 4,800 tourism industry leaders, media and government representatives across the state. It distributes valuable information on Visit NC’s marketing and promotional efforts, tourism-related research, state, national and international trends, media leads, updates on conferences and events, and more.